Several media outlets are reporting that the New Orleans Pelicans have signed recently waived center Greg Stiemsma to a one-year, $2.7 million contract. The Pelicans then announced they were renouncing the rights to Roger Mason Jr., Lou Amundson and Xavier Henry, moves likely necessary to make room under the league's salary cap of $58.679 million. The Pelicans waived forward Lance Thomas on Wednesday morning, realizing a savings of $884,293.

Stiemsma, 6 foot 11, 260, is a two-year NBA veteran having played with the Boston Celtics and most recently with the Minnesota Timberwolves who released him last week.Agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed the signing and the terms.

The Pelicans would not confirm the signing, nor have they made any official announcement of the moved they've reportedly made since the June 27 draft. Wednesday is the day any transactions made since then can be consummated.

The team has announced a press conference for 11 a.m. on Thursday at which time a "major announcement" would be made.

Thomas
would have earned the veteran's minimum of $884,293 this season with
the Pelicans. He appeared in 101 games with New Orleans over two seasons
averaging 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.6 minutes
per game.

Stiemsma can provide the
Pelicans with much-needed depth at the center position, since the team reportedly has traded Robin Lopez to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jeff Withey, a 7-foot rookie from Kansas who was the Blazers' second-round draft choice.